Comments on: iPhone wannabes or smart alternatives? You decide

iPhone madness is in high-gear, but there are other touch screen phones on the market.

[Perry_Clease]

"The iPhone won't do what I need, so I will keep my Kaiser. It is not as sexy (if you drink the Apple Koolaid)"

It doesn't matter how much, or what, you drink, the Kaiser (either the automobile or the cell phone) isn't sexy. :)

Seriously I had never heard of that phone I had to Google it.

[KC Fehner]

What would make all these phones cool and still isn't on the iPhone. Internet Radio. Why should you have to subscribe to get a 100 stations when the net has 1,000's for free.

[eperkins2]

"And even though AT&T is selling the 8GB model for the subsidized price of $200, the carrier still charges more than any other mobile phone operator for its bundle of services, making the iPhone 3G one of the most expensive to own phones on the market. For 450 minutes of talk time a month, unlimited data, which includes Web surfing and email, and text messaging, AT&T charges about $90 a month."

This statement is totally incorrect. In fact, the plan that costs $90.00 at AT&T costs $100.00 at Verizon, NOT $79.99. Verizon's $79.99 plan DOES NOT include any messages -- just like the $69.99 plan at AT&T. So AT&T is cheaper. I should know, as a long time Verizon customer.

[Maggie Reardon]

Verizon's premium plan with 450 talk time minutes costs $79.99 and includes:
* Unlimited Text, Picture, Video & Instant Messaging
* Mobile Email
* VCAST VPak
* VZ Navigator
* Unlimited Mobile Web 2.0
* Unlimited Night & Weekend Minutes
* Unlimited National IN Calling
* No Domestic Long Distance Charges
* 3-way calling
* Voice Mail
* Caller ID
Here is a link to the service charges on the Verizon Wireless Website:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=planFirst&action=viewPlanList&sortOption=priceSort&typeId=1&subTypeId==44&catId=929

[Zaunto]

I'm going to reserve judgement on the iPhone until the 3rd generation. By then, if there is no removable battery, SD card slots, Keyboard, video recorder or MMS capability, I won't be getting one. I personally neither want nor need any data services other than unlimited messaging in a phone that has WiFi capability. I'm not being forced to pay for services I don't want or need and I'm not going to cough up my SSN info to Apple for the privilege of owning a phone that only does half of what I need it to do. No thanks.

[Gerluv]

I love how everybody states their own personal needs as a reason to criticize the iphone. "This phone doesn't burp my baby and call me Daddy. It's not a very good phone." Okay try pulling your heads out of your dumpster and look at what it does. (aka spend some time with it as opposed to just reading stats) Appreciate the features objectively. Yes that means the ones you may never use. When you are deciding if a phone is good or bad, that's what you do. And then when you are deciding whether you want one or not...that's when your own personal preferences come in to play.

I hit the phone stores and CNET everytime a new piece of tech comes out. And really diddle with it a little bit. Oh yeah baby...but seriously...

There are certain things this phone does that no other phone touches. Not even close. And this is just the beginning. Pogue from the NYTimes said that a more staggering moment in mobile tech is coming than the invention of the iphone itself...the release of the 2.0 software and the apps that are being developed for it. Everything from productivity software, high end 3d gaming to software that will save lives. (watch the WWDC conference on the apple website)

I love the anti hype warriors. "I'm cool cause I don't give in." Whatever...there's a reason Time Magazine called it the invention of the year last year, that's right, a CELLPHONE getting the cover of Time Magazine...over medical inventions, aeronautic inventions and military inventions. Boom, the iphone!

Proud FANBOY since 2000

[Seaspray0]

Marguerite Reardon, excellent article. 5 stars to you and Cnet.

[Maggie Reardon]

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback. I will try to do more stories like this. If you have any good ideas or there's something you'd like to know more about, send me an email at [e-mail] and pitch an idea.

[sevort]

The iPhone has only one big problem in the US - AT&T.

[rozzinator]

"And even though AT&T is selling the 8GB model for the subsidized price of $200, the carrier still charges more than any other mobile phone operator for its bundle of services, making the iPhone 3G one of the most expensive to own phones on the market. For 450 minutes of talk time a month, unlimited data, which includes Web surfing and email, and text messaging, AT&T charges about $90 a month"

Why don't they fix this article??????? The price for this is $69/m for 450 with unlimited data, not $90, not $100 - $69.

Verizon charges $79 for the same service - so it is MORE expensive. iPhone is not one of the more expensive phones to own - that is simply false.

"Add unlimited voice and the price shoots up to $150."

Wrong again. Both ATT and Verizon charge $129 for unlimited data and voice. They are the same.


Not that iPhone is perfect but why spread this false information??

[buddy1065]

After reading all of the pros and cons I agree that many are judging the iPhone with their minds on their own personal preferences and not looking at the new coming software or simple user interface. I'll be in line Friday for my new iPhone.
As far as carriers are concerned, Sprint extended my service contract without my permission. May as well give AT&T a try at $69 a month.

I thought the Kaiser was something you eat...guess i need to google too.

[Maggie Reardon]

The $90 includes unlimited texting. AT&T prices its plans this way: $39.99 for 450 minutes of voice. $30 for unlimited data = $69.99. This price doesn't include any text messaging. If you want unlimited texting, that's another $20, which means the total package is $90. Verizon's premium service for 450 minutes of talk time includes unlimited data and unlimited texting for $79.99, so it costs less for the same type of package.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=planFirst&action=viewPlanList&sortOption=priceSort&typeId=1&subTypeId==44&catId=929

[Maggie Reardon]

I realized I didn't spell out where I got the $150 price tag for AT&T's unlimited voice service. Again, the $129 is for unlimited voice and data, which includes email and Web surfing. It does NOT include text messaging. If you want an unlimited text plan, you have to fork over an additional $20 a month. By contrast, Verizon's premium plan that includes unlimited texting, voice and data costs $140. So again, AT&T is $10 more expensive than Verizon.

[thelemurking]

As already pointed out, texting is a package.

I have the Samsung Instinct on the $99 plan and that is UNLIMITED EVERYTHING! Unlimited voice, text, data, gps etc. That's about $150 for similar on AT&T.

$129 for the phone, $35 for an 8gb microSD card from Amazon and I still come out cheaper than the 8gb iPhone with a much better plan.

[iJah420]

Ok heres my 2cents.

Ijah420 says.....

Because this new device has "Phone" in its name...it throws critics WAY off target.

People of the naysayers of iPhone.... HELLO!!!! its NOT A PHONE!!!!!

The iPhone is a hand held COMPUTER PLATFORM.....with one hell of a SDK that just happens to be able to make a phone calls.....

Competitors will not be able to create the ecosystem of iApple. This app store IS the next iTunes.

Oh how they laughed @ iPod 2001... Keep laughing all you naysayers, because history is about to repeat itself 10 times over in 2008.

iJah420 knows what he's talking about.....;)

[thelemurking]

since I absolutely HATE iTunes, I guess that's more of a reason to avoid the iPhone. I like my iMac and my iPods, it's that bloated crapware iTunes that puts a negative light on my iPod. Because of that, I will probably go with a Sansa Fuse for my next player.

[iJah420]

one quick comment-question....

Can you all imagine the comments on these sites IF MSFT was the OEM of this device?

IJah420 out

[sciontcya]

If MSFT was the OEM, you'd be the only one posting here and nobody would give a rat's ass.
Think Zune?
Epic.

[iJah420]

RIM & Verizon both ridiculed the touch screen and AAPL.. now look @ em!

Verizon Wireless is counting on a touchscreen BlackBerry from Research In Motion -- code-named "Thunder" -- to help it compete against archrival AT&T, which is Apple's exclusive U.S. carrier partner for the new iPhone 3G. Here's hoping things get worked out, fast: Mobile blog Boy Genius Report says Thunder is "nowhere near being able to enter production," citing a source who, the site claims, works for RIM (RIMM).

What's wrong with Thunder? Well, what isn't wrong with it? The keyboard is "incredibly annoying" to type on, the screen shows "ripples even when pressed ever-so-lightly," the user interface "blinks and lags," and the software is "a joke." Based on how long it's taken RIM and AT&T (T) to sort out problems with the forthcoming BlackBerry Bold, BGR concludes, "Thunder won?t be ready for at least another 4-5 months."

Good LUCK with that BOYZ!!!

[iJah420]

What's a Zune?

[iJah420]

Doesn't that mean small ***** in French?

[thelemurking]

It still pisses me off on the over all lack of coverage on all these other phones. It really does make me wonder if Cnet employees get paid a little sumtin sumtin on the side by Apple for every mention of the iPhone.

[Perry_Clease]

"since I absolutely HATE iTunes, I guess that's more of a reason to avoid the iPhone. I like my iMac and my iPods, it's that bloated crapware iTunes that puts a negative light on my iPod. Because of that, I will probably go with a Sansa Fuse for my next player."

I agree, the 140 MB iTunes is a huge application that takes up most of my hard drive and even worse it uses almost 70 MB of RAM.

[Olu070]

RE: iTunes
My workout playlist is currently has 4 levels of songs. Songs that can be played every day, songs that can only be played once a week, songs that can only be played once a month, and songs that can only be played only once every six months. Oh and all songs are between 80-120 beats per minute.

When you find a music player/desktop application that can do that, give me call. Until then I'll keep using iTunes.

As for the iPhone, if it's not for you, don't use it. I fear however that unlike the iPod there isn't anything that comes close to it. As been said before, it's not just a phone, it's a mobile computer.

[thelemurking]

It still pisses me off on the over all lack of coverage on all these other phones. It really does make me wonder if Cnet employees get paid a little sumtin sumtin on the side by Apple for every mention of the iPhone.

I'm actually surprised that these phones got some face time on the main page... brief as it may.

[zorky9]

I have an unlocked MWg Atom Life 3G phone. I'm currently using Go Phone service, and I recently purchased AT&T's MEdia Net service for $19.99 a month for an unlimited data plan. I can access corporate Exchange servers as well as my personal emails. If that works, I think it's cheaper to buy an unlocked iPhone 3G ($499?) and get a prepaid GO Phone service, and just add in the unlimted data plan each month, and be free from AT&T's locked in service. Not that I'm buying the new iPhone, I love my Atom just fine. I may be wrong, but that's definitely cheaper than going for $90+ monthly service plans.

The new iPhone probably has a better interface and has GPS, but I'll stick with my Atom which has video recording, 2MP camera, Wi-Fi g, a testmyiphone.com rating of 476kbps download speed in the greater Seattle area, ~3 day battery life, and the availability of thousands of Windows Mobile applications out there.

[zorky9]

... and oh a 624mhz Intel processor. ;)

[joopy64]

wheres the Samsung Omnia?!?!?!??!?!?!??
i think that might be the closest competitor to the iphone 3g